Amsterdam’s famous red light district back in business after lockdown as sex workers boast they’re already fully booked
AMSTERDAM’S famous red light district is back in business after the coronavirus lockdown and business is already booming.
Business is not quite back to normal though as sex workers and clients have to follow strict new regulations.
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The city closed its brothels in mid-March and had originally planned to keep them shut until September, but recently brought the date forward as coronavirus cases fell.
Romanian sex worker Felicia Anna, 34, said it “felt very good” to be back at work.
Anna, who is chairwoman of the Red Light United trade union, said: “During the lockdown, a lot of sex workers ran into financial trouble so we’re very happy that we can finally start our job again.”
There had been fears there would be fewer clients due to most of them being tourists and a travel ban in many countries is still in place.
However, ‘Foxxy’, a sex worker and activist at the Prostitution Information Center in Amsterdam claimed she was “totally booked” yesterday.
‘Foxxy’, who rents a room just outside the red light district added she “had a little party” when she heard the government’s June 24 announcement that sex work could restart.
Sex in Amsterdam – the do’s and don’t’s
Sex workers already adhere to strict health safety regulations but special precautions are now in place due to the coronavirus
Do
Deep clean all windows, beds and surfaces
Gloves, face masks and hand sanitiser have to be available
Rooms have be thoroughly cleaned after each session, including all objects
Unions have told workers “don’t shake hands” with clients
Don’t
No heavy breathing or kissing
Certain sexual positions are out especially ones in the client’s “moist breath zone”
While business has started again there are a number of rules that have to be followed to combat the spread of Covid-19.
Sex workers have to verify that their clients do not have Covid-19 symptoms.
‘Foxxy’ said: “Before I make an appointment, I have to check with the client if they’re feeling ok and if they don’t have any of the symptoms, or if any of their housemates has symptoms.”
Other measures include “disinfection and washing the hands, cleaning the sheets after every appointment.
“Those are the basic needs. But we don’t need to wear any face masks during the playdates, thank God”.
‘Foxxy’ added: “most of us will avoid face to face, so no kissing”.
Janet van der Berg, from the Prostitution Information Centre, said: “There are hand gels and we’ve thought about what positions are handy – or not – but that’s not in an official protocol, you can work that out for yourself.”
Anna said that “after the customer leaves the room, we’re going to disinfect everything he might have touched, bed, sink, the toilet if he used the toilet, the doorknobs, everything”.
She added that sex workers were already used to following strict hygiene rules, saying: “We already dealt with much bigger diseases than corona.”
Most read in News
Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Hugo de Jonge announced a “new phase” in The Netherlands battle with the coronavirus pandemic but said people still had to remain vigilant about the killer virus.
The Netherlands legalised prostitution in 2000 and sex workers have to register with the local chamber of commerce and pay income tax.
There are around 7,000 sex workers in Amsterdam, according to official figures.
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